Component Manufacturing

A wide array of room temperature and high temperature manufacturing equipment is employed to produce final shapes or components. A unique carbon bonded carbon fiber (CBCF) insulating material to provide reentry protection to nuclear fuel clads in radioisotope thermoelectric generators is produced in ORNL facilities maintained for vacuum molding, high temperature carbonization and machining of insulating components. ORNL has experience in forming and machining many alloys including steels, superalloys, refractory and precious metals. Other processing technologies employed are air, vacuum, hydrogen, and inert atmosphere heat treating, diffusion bonding and powder sintering. One component made using these processes is a high temperature precious metal filter. ORNL has vast experience in welding and brazing technology including arc processes, laser, electron beam, and friction stir welding. Surface modification of alloys and components is performed by laser and plasma arc lamps.

• Metal forming
• Heat treating and sintering
• Machining
• Arc, electron beam, friction stir and laser welding
• Inert-gas glove box welding
• High temperature carbonization
• Surface modification